Tulsa based Syntroleum's liquid fuel

They used to call Tulsa the â€˜Oil Capital of the World.â€™ But someday, they might call Tulsa the â€˜Alternative Fuel Capital of the World.â€™ <br><br>Tulsa-based Syntroleum Corporation says it's

Tuesday, March 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

They used to call Tulsa the â€˜Oil Capital of the World.â€™ But someday, they might call Tulsa the â€˜Alternative Fuel Capital of the World.â€™

Tulsa-based Syntroleum Corporation says it's perfected a way to convert natural gas into a "liquid" fuel. News on 6 business reporter Steve Berg has the story.

It doesn't look anything like regular diesel fuel, and Syntroleum Vice-President Jeff Bigger says it doesn't act like it either. â€œThereâ€™s no nitrogen compounds, there's no sulphur compounds, so when it burns, it burns straight into carbon dioxide and water, so it's a very clean combustion."

â€œNot only does it burn more cleanly, it has a lot more power and it runs a lot more smoothly.â€ Syntroleum president Jack Holmes says its taken 20 year to perfect the technology.

A demonstration plant at the Port of Catoosa just made the first batch on a large scale this month. The potential benefits of the new diesel fuel are enormous. Not only will the diesel fuel help cities meet tough new pollution standards, the gas to liquid technology will let companies tap into huge natural gas reserves that until now were considered unreachable.

"Natural gas in very remote locations has essentially zero value." But converted into a liquid, it's much easier to transport. What's more, there are lots of natural gas sources to choose from. Many of these gas fields lie in areas outside of the more politically-sensitive areas so that we are diversifying our source of supply if you will. Simply put, it can be found in countries that like us.

"Some of those countries would love to work with us and supply that fuel to the United States.â€ If it can lessen both pollution and dependency on foreign oil, it could be liquid gold.

Experts estimate the amount of known natural gas reserves is roughly equal to the amount of known crude oil.